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Fremont, California — September 27, 2006
Rob Elphinstone and FeaturePics are trying to raise money for a Kids can
Read program to build a library project in Farah, near Herat, Afghanistan
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Artist and photographer, Rob Elphinstone, is working with French organization
Femaid and ACA Gallery of Toronto, Canada to help bring much needed books to
the people in the Eastern portion of Afghanistan.
The KidscanreadAfghanistan program is being organized with Malalai Joya,
elected representative in the parliament of Afghanistan. The idea is to
construct a public library for young adults and children in Afghanistan.
The public library will be situated in ancient and historic Herat, one of the
main cities of Afghanistan after Kabul and Mazar-e-Sharif, by the Iranian
border.
To help fulfill this goal limited edition photographic prints are offered for
sale by artist and photographer, Rob Elphinstone. His remarkable journey
through Badakhshan, an Afghan northern province in the company of Doctors
without Borders is a tale that involves art, culture, medicine and the trials
of war.
Instead of military intervention, this worthy program focuses on educating
people in a culturally appropriate manner.
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The Public Library will be situated in the ancient city of Farah, south of
Herat, one of Afghanistan's poorest regions. Population estimates vary through
lack of official documentation and the sheer difficulty in undertaking any such
research, but 200 000 inhabitants make up a conservative estimate. This library
will be the first of its kind; furthermore, girls have been attending massively
school since the fall of the Taliban. There is a 8000 strong student population
in the city. The future library is located near the nearby Melman Nazo girls'
school. There are 3000 female pupils there, studying in shifts, many of them
former refugees, of which half of them are married and many mothers (marriage
takes place quite often at 13 or 14 if not before).
With the help of a committee that includes experts on Islamic law and Afghan
custom, careful thought will be going into the choice of works and films to be
sent, in order to avoid any adverse reaction, all of which should be catalogued
and approved beforehand: fiction and non fiction, world literature, works
covering the fields of sciences, history, technology, practical medicine, first
aid, childcare, home economics social sciences, gender in an accessible form
will be sent, as well as reference works (encyclopaedias, dictionaries and
teaching aids). More than a library, this should be a place for exchange and
communication, studies and workshops. Through computers and Internet
facilities, links with other schools and cultural youth groups worldwide could
be established. This library, situated in one of the key areas of Afghanistan
could be at the centre of many cultural exchanges between young people and
schools East and West. Furthermore, for a society emerging from over a quarter
of a century of war, a special area within the library with learning activities
designed for young children will contribute to enrich perceptions of childhood
generally. There are a number of young mothers and older sisters in the Melman
Nazo school so the idea is that they could come to the library with the
children they care for. Playing does not exist, because the concept of
childhood as a period of discovery, learning and development is inexistent.
Just as in pre-Enlightenment Europe, a child is considered just an incomplete,
immature non-sexual adult who has to train for future hardship, especially
girls. An area devoted to an Early Learning Centre,with creative games and toys
will certainly advance the cause of childhood here.
More information about the project:
http://acagallery.com/afghanistan.html
Carol Mark
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Rob Elphinstone travelled with Doctors without Borders (MSF) into the Hindu
Kush Mountains to the northern tip of the province of Badakhshan.
Rob Elphinstone can be contacted by email at robelphinstone@shaw.ca
Rob
Elphinstone's Photography of Afghanistan
http://www.FeaturePics.com/Fundraising/Kids-Can-Read-Program.aspx
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The Afghan partner in this venture is Afghan member of parliament for Farah,
Malalai Joya. The success of any kind of aid project, however well-intentioned,
is dependent on the local partners, especially in such a difficult context.
Malalai Joya is without a doubt one of Afghanistan's most courageous and
outspoken members of parliament. She is becoming well known to the
English-speaking public through her tour of the US and Canada this year. As a
most vocal champion for women's rights in her country, she enthusiastically
hosts host this project and her charity OPAWC, registered in Afghanistan will
be the implementing partner in charge in Farah.
Femaid contact: Carol Mann
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FeaturePics is a
site for buying and selling Stock Photography, and giving recognition to the
excellent group of FeaturePics Photographers.
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Contact info:
Phone: (510)794 7168
Fax: (510)794-4178
General and Business Inqueries
34249 Fremont Blvd #212
Fremont, CA 94555
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